And now, for the latest edition of Wow: The Human Race Is Depressing AF. Reports have come out of South Carolina that a white restaurant owner, 52-year-old Bobby Paul Edwards, inhumanely employed and abused a disabled black man; the specific word being used in this case is "enslavement." Edwards was charged with forced labor and indicted this week by a federal grand jury. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison, per the Post and Courier.

The details of the alleged abuse are particularly stomach-turning. According to prosecutors, Edwards "used force, threats of force, physical restraint and coercion" to push an intellectually disabled man named Christopher Smith to work under barbaric conditions. Smith, who WGCL reports has been diagnosed with delayed cognitive development, would pull 18-hour shifts six days a week—oftentimes without breaks, his attorneys said. They also claimed Smith was hit with a frying pan, burned with grease-covered tongs, and beaten with butcher knives, belt buckles, and fists, all "while being called the n-word repeatedly." On top of that, Smith was paid less than $3,000 a year.

In 2015, Smith's attorneys filed a federal lawsuit against Edwards, the restaurant where this enslavement and abuse allegedly occurred, J&J Cafeteria, and its owner, Ernest J. Edwards, Bobby Edwards' brother. In addition to possible prison time, Bobby Edwards would also have to pay mandatory restitution to Smith if the suit is won.

Edwards' attorney, Scott Bellamy, says Edwards is looking forward to seeing his name cleared. "The federal government has been looking at this for two years, trying to find something," Bellamy said. "And he still maintains his innocence."

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Transcript

Hey guys. Beija here for Complex.

It’s 2017 and unfortunately racist, evil ass people still exist in today’s society. Some very disturbing news has surfaced of a white restaurant manager that inhumanely employed and abused a mentally disable black man in South Carolina. The perpetrator’s name is Bobby Paul Edwards and the 52-year-old was charged with forced labor and indicted this week by a federal grand jury. This heinous act is being classified as “enslavement’ and if Mr. Edwards is convicted, he could potentially face up to 20 years in prison, per the Post and Courier.

The victim, Christopher Smith, allegedly was working under some very cruel and uncivilized conditions for 23 YEARS only being paid less than $3,000 annually. State social workers rescued Smith after they fielded a tip from someone concerned for his safety. The details of the abuse are very troubling. The prosecutors are accusing Edwards of “used force, threats of force, physical restraint and coercion" on the intellectually handicapped man. The WGCL reports that Smith has been diagnosed with delayed cognitive development. They also claimed that Edwards’ abuse towards Smith consisted of being hit with a frying pan, burned with grease-covered tongs, and beaten with butcher knives, belt buckles, and fists, all "while being called the n-word repeatedly."

Back in 2015, Smith’s lawyers filed a federal lawsuit against J&J Cafeteria where the alleged abuse took place, Bobby Edwards and his brother Ernest J. Edwards who was the owner of the restaurant. If Smith wins the lawsuit, Bobby Edwards potentially faces prison time and would also have to pay mandatory restitution to the plaintiff. Edwards’ attorney, Scott Bellamy, said he’s looking forward to his client’s name being cleared.

"The federal government has been looking at this for two years, trying to find something. And he still maintains his innocence."

That’s all the news for now, but for any more updates on this story, be sure to subscribe to Complex on Youtube today. For Complex News, I’m Beija Velez.

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